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Manchester City vs Liverpool: Roberto Firmino says Brendan Rodgers had to be sacked after poor results

Despite signing the Brazil international, Firmino has shown little commitment to his former manager

Jack de Menezes
Saturday 21 November 2015 11:43 GMT
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Roberto Firmino admitted Brendan Rodgers needed to be sacked by Liverpool
Roberto Firmino admitted Brendan Rodgers needed to be sacked by Liverpool

Roberto Firmino has admitted that former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers had to be sacked after poor results – despite him being the manager to bring the Brazilian to Anfield just a handful of months before being dismissed.

Firmino was heavily linked with a move to Manchester United in the summer, but Liverpool won the race to sign the Brazil international from German outfit Hoffenheim in a £29m transfer.

However, Copa America duty and injury prevented Firmino from featuring regularly during his early days on Merseyside, and with Rodgers sacked at the start of October, Firmino clearly didn’t build a strong rapport with the Northern Irishman before his exit.

Speaking on Sky Sports’ ‘Barclays Premier League Weekly Show’, Firmino said: “It was a short period [under Rodgers]. I considered him a great manager but I didn’t get much playing time under him.

“When results don’t come along, it is a must to switch managers.”

Roberto Firmino is yet to score a goal for Liverpool

While Firmino clearly didn’t enjoy the best of starts under Rodgers’ tenure, he believes that new manager Jürgen Klopp’s style and approach to training matches his game, and feels that it is a case of when and not if Liverpool begin to click and reach top gear.

“I think Klopp has the typical Germany mentality, which I am used to as I played for four years in Germany,” Firmino added.

“I do like his German methods, he concentrates and focuses on what he wants. I think he will help us. We are already getting what he wants from us.

“He brings good vibes, we are on a positive path and we are always aiming high.”

Despite Klopp’s arrival, Firmino is yet to break his Liverpool duck having failed to find the back of the net in any of his 13 appearances this season, although just four of those have come as starts in the Premier League.

Klopp suffered his first defeat with Liverpool last time out as the Reds lost 2-1 to Crystal Palace at Anfield, and a first goal for the club in this evening’s trip to Manchester City from Firmino would certainly be a welcome sight for Klopp, the club’s fans and those in the Liverpool transfer committee who sanctioned the expensive signing only to see little return from the move so far.

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